The summer period in the Urals is rather short, therefore it is very difficult for an ordinary gardener to grow tomatoes in such a place.
The climatic features of the Urals must be considered in the selection of varieties for planting, as well as during the cultivation of tomatoes. However, if you properly care for vegetables, even in such difficult climatic conditions, you can get a high yield of healthy fruits with excellent taste. The article tells about the selection of a suitable variety of tomatoes and the intricacies of growing a vegetable.
Climate features
All these characteristics are directly dependent on the geographical location of the area. The region is located far from the oceans, deep in the continent. The climate of the Urals is heterogeneous, very changeable, precipitation is unevenly distributed. The weather tends to change at a rather high speed. That is, in one day it can rain, hail and start a strong wind, and in the intervals between the change of weather the sun will shine brightly.
In the summer, temperature fluctuations are especially pronounced in the Urals. In the southern part of the region at this moment the temperature can rise to 25 degrees Celsius, while in the northern parts the air temperature reaches only six degrees Celsius. This fact should be taken into account during the cultivation of tomatoes.
Reference. Summer in the southern part of the described area lasts about 5 months, everything else is winter, in the north everything is a little different: the summer lasts only two months, and the winter period is all 10.
What varieties are better to plant?
Agronomists with great experience advise to give preference to varieties that are resistant to adverse conditions, unpretentious to the growing conditions, as well as varieties of tomatoes that have early ripening. Gardeners recommend to pay attention to the following varieties.
Far North
It grows to a height of up to half a meter. The ripening period is 3-3.5 months. External description: the color of the fruit is red, it is round in shape, dense, the average weight reaches 80 grams. The main advantage of the species is the early and simultaneous ripening of fruits.
Crimson Viscount
In length reaches approximately 50 centimeters. Description of tomato: crimson color, harsh to the touch, rounded shape with a dull end. Fruits ripen in 3 months. Can reach a mass of up to 250 grams. The main advantage is considered to be taste and high yields.
Boni-m
The height is the same as in the previous varieties - 45 centimeters. The fruits fully ripen in less than three months. External data: the color of the tomato is bright red, the shape is regular round, very fleshy, grows in weight about 80 grams. Advantages: resistance to various diseases and cracking.
Evgenia
This species is slightly smaller than the rest - only 30 centimeters. Ripens in 3.5 months. According to the description, this standard tomato is red, fleshy, round. Weight is about 100 grams. The advantages include an excellent presentation, and preserving it for a long time, immunity in late blight.
Gavrosh
In height reaches up to half a meter. Maturing term - 85 days. Fruit weight is only 50 grams. Tomato color is saturated red, round, a distinctive feature is the absence of a spot on the stem. Advantages of the variety - very fast ripening.
Vershok
The length of the stem - 50-60 centimeters. The aging time is three months. Fruits are small, weighing up to 25 grams, red color, rounded shape. Advantage - resistance to diseases and pests.
Antoshka
Plant height - 0.6-0.7 meters. Tomatoes ripen an average of three months. The color of the fruit is very bright, weight reaches 100 grams. Advantages of the variety: immunity to diseases and easy tolerance of adverse weather conditions.
When are the dates of planting tomatoes in the greenhouse and in the open ground?
Tomatoes are a very thermophilic culture, therefore, it is possible to plant seedlings in a greenhouse only in strictly defined periods. Landing in greenhouses that are not heated should not occur earlier than in May. Terms of planting in the greenhouse - not earlier than mid-April.
To grow tomatoes from seeds in the Urals is considered impractical. It is better to resort to the usual planting of tomatoes for this region - seedlings (about the peculiarities of growing tomato seedlings in the Chinese way, read here, and from this article you will learn about the seedless method of sowing seeds).
As for planting tomatoes in open ground, the weather conditions in the Urals are not very suitable for this procedure, since tomatoes are considered a thermophilic culture. Warm weather can not linger long in this region. In addition, the soil does not have time to warm up to the optimum level. But if you still decide to take a chance and plant tomatoes in open ground, it is better to do it from the second half of June.
Features of growing
For planting in the greenhouse you need to pick up the period when the soil is heated to 20 centimeters in depth to at least 13 degrees Celsius. In the case of a lower temperature, the roots will not be able to absorb a sufficient amount of moisture, and therefore they will not be able to fully develop.
Procedure:
- Before planting, you should take care of a good drainage layer, because tomatoes do not tolerate stagnant moisture.
- Next, prepare the furrows at a distance of 0.5 meters from each other.
- Each furrow needs to be watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, sprinkled with ashes and a little superphosphate.
Important. In no case can you add humus to the ground, because in this case you will get quite powerful bushes with a small number of fruits.
Step-by-step care instructions
Recall that the most suitable way to grow a plant is to plant tomatoes for seedlings. This method will help get a good healthy harvest. But for this you should follow the rules of cultivation:
- 15 days after growing the seedlings to a permanent place, the seedlings must be tied up, and the “stepchildren” must be removed, leaving only hemp, 2-3 centimeters high.
- Before tomatoes begin to bloom and impose fruits, it is worth watering the crop no more than once a week.
- If the weather is very dry, the frequency of watering should be increased. The same must be done in the case when the slightest fruits begin to form.
- If moisture is not enough, there is a chance of development of top rot, and its excessive amount can cause rotting of the entire root system.
- It is necessary to moisten the soil only under the root system, the most suitable time is morning or after sunset.
- In the period of development and active growth of tomatoes they need to be fed with liquid fertilizer, for example, mullein or ready-made complex feeding. Make sure that the fertilizer has a sufficient amount of potassium and magnesium, otherwise as a result of this lack of green spots may appear on the tomatoes. Such fertilizers are applied twice a month.
- To increase the number of ovaries and fruits, it is necessary to spray the culture with a solution of boric acid (10%) every two weeks.
- As soon as the first ovaries appear on the tomatoes, it is necessary to remove the lower leafy plates, especially those that are in contact with the ground - it is best to carry out such a procedure in the sunny morning hours, thus the wounds will have time to drag on in the evening.
- Several times in a season, the plant must be treated with insecticidal and fungicidal preparations as a preventive measure against diseases and attack of pests.
- The soil should be waterproof and breathable, fertilized.
- In the soil is best to add a little black soil and large river sand.
Tips and tricks
According to the agronomists of the Urals, An important criterion for the quality of tomatoes is the keeping quality of fruits and the ability to transport. But It is worth noting that those fruits that can be stored for a long time, do not always have excellent taste.
You also need to give preference to those varieties that are resistant to the development of infections and adverse conditions. Therefore, do not forget to process the culture with special solutions, for example, such as "Epin" and "Zircon".
To grow any vegetable in a region with such an ambiguous climate is very difficult. Therefore, you need to make a lot of effort and time to achieve high yields. But the ability to grow tomatoes on your site and being confident in their qualities is expensive.